Last Day of Summer

Zuma Beach!! Our favorite place to go. I made the kids jump out of the car and get this picture at the entrance to the parking. I thought it was perfect to memorialize our Zuma days!
And days after complaining about not being able to figure out how to download video, the website introduced video blogging. So check this out.

First Day of School

This morning was a big day in our lives. Both Paige and Seth went off to Elementary School. For one year they will both be in the same school. They are both very excited about the new year, as is their mom. I can't believe the time has come where I will have more than 3 hours to run errands and try to do all the things I need (or want) to do. My goal is to become more organized and start consistently working out again. New School Year Resolutions!!

Seth's first day of Kindergarten went great. He met his teacher yesterday, and then they only had an hour of class today. He loved it and is excited to be at the same school as Paige. His teacher is Mrs. Shemesh. When I first told him her name he said "It sounds like you're talking with your mouth full." On the way to school he said "Mrs. Shemoosh" I corrected him and then he repeated her name 5 more times under his breath. He is very excited to do all of the fun things Paige has done over the years.

Seth with his class. The boy in brown is Riley, who was also in his preschool class. The rest of the kids are new to him, but he has about 10 kids he knows in the other classes. Plus they have extended day, which means they all go from 8-1pm and get to eat lunch there. He is excited.

Today was Paige's first day of 5th grade with Mrs. Denison. Once again none of her best friends are in her class, but she has some nice kids that she knows from years past. She is very excited about the school year and now she and her friends rule the school since our Elementary only goes to 5th grade. We'll see if she lets us walk her to the line up assembly tomorrow morning, she might be too cool for us. I am in denial that next year is Jr. High. It was a half day which was good since the temp reached 108 today! We were melting!!

Santa Monica Pier

Paige reminded me last week that we had not gone to the Santa Monica Pier. I had promised we would go this summer. So today we went as a family. It was a lot of fun, but as usual Seth chickened out on a lot of the rides. The picture of them on the frog hopper was short lived. He started out not sure, then it was this is kindof fun, and then the screaming and crying started as the little frog hop went bouncing down. Flashbacks of Bulgy the whale ride at Lagoon a year ago. Stopping the ride for Seth to get off while the 2 year olds stay on for the remainder of the ride. He just has a hard time with the butterflies in the stomach motion. He loved the bumper cars and trampoline jump though. Paige tried the big drop ride for the first time and loved it. I think she went on it 6 times. All in all we had a fun time. Summer is quickly coming to a close.

Best Day Ever

We planned to go to the beach Monday, good choice. The forcast was 100 at our house and 80 at the beach with no fog. We got an early start and got to the beach by 11am. Here is our routine: Pull everything out of the car (beach chairs, toys, umbrella, shovel, 3 boogie boards), pile it all on the boogie boards, drag them across 50yds of sand, sunscreen kids who are begging to get in the water, tell kids over and over they can't get in until the sunscreen dries and I set up shop, Set everything up, tell the kids they can go in the water, I open the cooler and crack open my first Diet Dr Pepper. A great start to the day. We go with my friend Katrina who has the same age and gender kids I do, so we are set. After about an hour the kids are begging me to get in. I grab the boogie board and head out. The waves were really strong and so it was really fun to catch some great ones with Paige. We usually pack up around 4-4:30 but it was so beautiful and the crowds were dying down, so I told my friend let's just sit here until they want to leave. They were done with the water but enjoying fun made up games with a little football. What a day! We left the beach around 6:30 and made it home just before 7pm. Wow!! I threw the kids in the shower to rinse off the buckets of sand. Matt called around 8 and asked what the schedule for the night was, I sheepishly said "eat dinner and get ready for bed" his response "you haven't had dinner yet?" Well, when you get home at seven from the beach that's the way life goes. If you did they math, yes, 7 1/2 hours at the beach. Like I said, BEST DAY EVER!!! Sorry to rub it in, but any of you are more than welcome to come and visit. September is still great beach weather!!
ps-I took a short video with my camera but couldn't upload it. If anyone knows how let me know

They buried themselves at least twice that day.

HSM2

If you have tweenage children or younger I am sure you know what this stands for. The big premiere of High School Musical 2 was last night and boy does disney know how to market. Paige was invited to a premiere party with all the trimmings, the cd came out a few days before so we had to buy that, and now tomorrow night is the replay with the words to all the songs! Sadly enough we don't need the words, because Paige has already memorized them since she listens to the cd in the car and in the shower :) Matt even commented tonight "She already knows the songs?" I had to remind him we have had the cd for a few days now. Seth of course is in the mix wanting to listen to #8 over and over (Bet on it). I am sure the hype will slow down, or will it. Matt saw on the computer that they are already in production for HSM3, of course, they haven't gone to prom or graduated from high school yet. Possibly a Halloween HSM? All of this and I haven't even said anything about Hannah Montana!!! You know about that too? :) All for one! (I know way too much)

Seth getting in on the action before the rest of the girls got there.

Soccer Season Begins

Seth's team will be the Sea Monsters

Paige's team mascot is the Penguins

Last week we started the 4 month long commitment of soccer. This is Paige's 4th year with AYSO and after watching and going to all of Paige's practices and games it is time for Seth to join his own team. YEAY! Neither of them know anyone on their teams, but they bond quickly and enjoy the fun drills. It is so funny to watch Seth's team practice. There were only 4 there yesterday, but when the coach gives them instruction on how to do something correctly they all stop and think about it as the ball gets to them. The conscentration is fierce. And today Paige's practice will be in the 100 degree heat. But we take the water and spray misters to keep cool. Happy Soccer season.

Here I am!

I have finally felt the shame for not having a blog. I am the one who lives out of state and therefore I should be the one blogging. I finally feel like I can handle posting what we have been doing to friends and family. I check my sisters blogs daily waiting for updates, so I am sure they would like to see what we are doing in S. Cal. I am not the most eloquent, but in months to come you will see how we spend our days. (p.s. I don't share recipes or craft ideas. I don't cook. Unless you call toasting eggos and warming up chicken nuggets cooking! :) Here's to keeping up with the sisters!